Tips, Tricks & Professional Advice

A Smarter Way to Spray.   The 3M™ Performance Spray Gun was built for the modern painter and gives technicians a smarter way to spray. Made from an advanced impact-resistant composite material, the spray gun is one of the lightest in the industry yet durable enough for the toughest industrial conditions. From the trigger to the body, the spray gun was optimized by kinesiologists to enhance comfort specifically for the high demands of all-day spraying. With its versatile design, technicians can spray from either a pressurized source or a gravity cup. The pressure-fed hose and nozzles allow for continuous bulk...

  Everyone wants a nice smooth paint job but every once in a while the dreaded “orange peel” affects the quality of the finish, making for an unpleasant look to your project. Orange peel is a textured imperfection in a paint job that ends up resembling the peel of an orange with slight waves and dimples that reflect light in different directions.   What causes orange peel?               While orange peel is mainly caused by human error, not having the right equipment for the job is also a major contributor. A common mistake is...

A frequently asked question when we are on site discussing spray booths. The manometer is a mechanical gauge to indicate when the exhaust filters require changing and will be inspected during any OSHA inspection.  A manometer has two airports to compare the exhaust fan high pressure in front of the exhaust filters with the low-pressure area on the backside of the exhaust filters. The pressure difference is measured in inches of water column. INSTALLATION OF A NEW MANOMETER Temporarily mount the manometer on an outside vertical booth panel near the exhaust filter frame. Locate your high and low panel penetrations and install the...

When we field a call regarding a heavy spray pattern to one side, or something is in my finish, or my finish looks like it is separating, we often ask if a magnifying glass is nearby. With the aid of magnification you will see that particle that is deflecting the spray pattern, identify exactly the source of the contamination in your finish, and whether your separation has a micro spec of contamination in the center of the separation.   Quickly seeing and identifying the source of the problem that is not visible with normal vision is huge in trouble-shooting a finish...

We have mentioned air line pressure drop, as well as dynamic air pressure readings when previously discussing spray gun air atomizing settings. Air line pressure loss occurs throughout the shop, and insufficient hose size and quick disconnects are the main culprits. Ideally we want the incoming air pressure to our spray gun or air tool at the recommended operating pressure so we have to factor in an allowance for pressure loss due to the length of airline travel. Air line pressure drop is effected by; length of travel, CFM, and air pressure at the source. The chart below illustrates the...